Description:

**First Time At Auction**

Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Sican / Lambayeque or Chimu culture, ca. 750 to 1370 CE. A silver drinking vessel with portrait-like face, gazing forward intensely with a beak like nose protruding and repousse surface and diamond shaped eyes. These silver cups known aquillas (or kero when made of wood) were for ceremonial purposes that incorporated intricate religious libations and imbibing rites. Given how this is high quality 99% silver the visage most likely represented an elite individual or mythical deity figure and may have been a burial good. To create this piece, the ancient metalsmith hammered a thin silver sheet upon a fine-grained stone anvils and hammer stones - sometimes with animal hide attached to prevent scratching, and a wooden template was used to create the form and its repousse ornamentation. Size: 2.75" Diameter x 5" H (7 cm x 12.7 cm); silver quality: 99%; weight: 34.5 grams

Provenance: private Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#178002

  • Condition: Creasing and folding to thin silver as shown. Tears and perforations to base and sides of vessel. Softening to repousse details and areas of dark toning and patina.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

April 6, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 26.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000